Bloomingdales woos Chinese shoppers to San Francisco

The retailer said Tuesday it will be ringing in the year of the snake with a full lineup of events and pop-up shops at a few select stores, including Westfield San Francisco Centre.

In doing so, Bloomingdales is hoping to bring more Chinese shoppers into its stores. And it’s stopping at nothing to makes its Asian visitors feel welcome.

“Bloomingdale’s is excited to not only recognize and celebrate this special holiday, but the entire Chinese culture,” said Bloomingdale’s chairman and CEO Michael Gould. “It is our hope that Chinese consumers and tourists, along with all of our loyal shoppers, will enjoy the festive holiday and culture rooted in tradition.”

The store will be playing on several Chinese New Year’s traditions, such as handing out red envelops — which symbolize good luck and are believed to ward off evil — filled with monetary prizes shoppers can use in the store. These prizes will be given out in denominations of $8, $88 or $888, traditionally lucky numbers in Chinese culture.

The store will also be giving away Forty Carrots yogurt in a limited edition Taro Root flavor, as well as Chinese New Year shopping totes.

Out-of-town Chinese visitors will be eligible to receive special savings and little gifts with their purchases.

Bloomingdales is using the opportunity to showcase its guidebook in simplified Chinese languages available in San Francisco, New York and Chicago only. The store also wants you to know that it has 187 Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking associates nationwide.